Any positive stories on beating "C Diff"? *UPDATE*

[Liz]

My daughter has been diagnosed with C-Diff. People are well meaning, I suppose, but it's not helpful to keep being told how they know so and so who got that and it was so awful and they are still dealing with it months later, etc. It's not that I don't want to know the facts. I looked it up and read about it online. But I'm so stressed already it's not helping to hear everyone's horror stories. Does anyone have anything helpful to say about dealing with this - anything that won't cause me to freak out more than I already am?? Thank you.

 

[cepmom]

no experience, but just wanted to wish you and your DD well. I'm sure it must be very difficult to deal with. Hope you find the answers you are looking for

 

[clarabelle]

Check your PMs!

 

[Liz]

Check your PMs!

Ok, I will keep an eye out. Nothing there yet.

 

[Katie's Butterflies]

My dad developed C Diff (and some other things) around September. He is now C Diff (disease, not bacteria) free. My dad was overcoming some other hospital produced illnesses at the time, so he took several months (about 4) to get better. If your daughter is relatively healthy, she should be fine soon. Honestly though, my dad's case wasn't that bad; he just had the one main symptom.

If you have any questions, just ask

I hope your daughter feels better soon.

 

[disney1990]

Please check you PMs regarding my granddaughter's C Diff infection. Hers was extremely serious, to the point, that they considered removal of her entire colon.

 

[VillageMama]

Yes! I have a very positive story to share!

Last summer my 13 year old son suffered a ruptured appendix and was in the hospital for six weeks. During that time he was on massive doses of several different kinds of antibiotics.

While the antibiotics helped to save his life, they wiped out the good bacteria in his gut and allowed C-Diff to proliferate. Just when he was released from the hospital for his appendix, he had to go back in because of the C-Diff.

Like you, I looked it up on the Internet. Big mistake. I was no longer fearing the ruptured appendix would kill him... now I was fearing the C-Diff would kill him.

Ironically, it took another antibiotic to knock out the C-Diff but I am delighted to report that he never had another problem with it again. His digestive system has been fine ever since.

I tried to boost his good bacteria by giving him probiotics every day. Yogurt is good, of course, but there is a specific strain that is particularly helpful for C-Diff. I'm sorry I don't remember which one, but you can figure it out via Google and purchase it online.

Best of luck to your dear daughter and many (((hugs))) for you. I know how scary it is when there is something potentially seriously wrong with your child. Please keep us posted as to how she is doing.

 

[VillageMama]

Double posting to say that I feel so bad for your daughter (and you) that I looked up the probiotic information for you.

This is from ChildrensHospital.org... http://www.childrenshospital.org/views/feb07/the_pros_and_cons_of_probiotics.html

"The other areas where we usually use probiotics in gastroenterology are food allergy and irritable bowel syndrome. Sometimes we use them in children with bacterial overgrowth. We also use probiotics to prevent bacterial infection, Clostridium difficile, also referred to as C. difficile or C. diff. There is a probiotic called saccharomyces boulardii that prevents recurrent C. diff. We sometimes try probiotics in irritable bowel syndrome, but I think the best proof is really in viral acute diarrhea in children."

If you do a Google search on "saccharomyces boulardii" you will find links to several different brands for sale.

 

[laurie31]

I hope your DD is better soon.

Of note - C. Diff is NOT killed by hand sanitizer, so make sure everyone is doing really good handwashing with soap and water.

And to end with a positive note - I've seen LOTS of patients with C. Diff, and most of them fully recover with no complications. It's no fun, though.

 

[dopeysgirl01]

My dd had this a few years ago while she was in preschool. It took a while to get rid of it. She had to take really horrible medicine that she hated but it worked. She wasn't miserable while she had it. I guess because she was young it didn't phase her that much. She has had no lasting effects from it. Good luck to you.

 

[Liz]

Thank you everyone! My daughter is immunosuppressed due to a heart transplant so I guess that's another reason why I am so scared. I appreciate all the info and positive stories. On the good side she seems to feel fairly well except for diarrhea. She is on an antibiotic to treat this until April 2 so we are praying that will take care of it. I will update when we know more! Thank you again!

P.S. All the stories we are hearing remind me of when a woman is going to give birth soon and everyone has a labor horror story they just have to share.

 

[VillageMama]

She had to take really horrible medicine that she hated but it worked.

I'm going to guess that it was Flagyl because that's what my son had to take and he couldn't tolerate it orally. Neither can a lot of folks.

Flagyl works but the only way my son could tolerate it was via an i.v. If he took the pills, they did not stay down.

In his case, he was hospitalized and put on i.v. Flagyl. After a few days he came home with an i.v. port(?) still in his arm. A visiting nurse came to our house and taught us how to hook him up to the Flagyl at home.

In my mother's case (for a different sort of infection), she continued to take oral Flagyl but had to take a prescription medicine to keep her from vomiting (Phenergen, but I think Zofran might have been better).

Liz, I just saw your update. Oh my goodness, a heart transplant! Your family has been through so much already. Don't listen to those awful labor stories. Just keep focused on your dear daughter and her doctor's advice. More ((hugs)).

 

[Liz]

Flagyl works but the only way my son could tolerate it was via an i.v. If he took the pills, they did not stay down.

That is what Laura is currently taking. I'm very surprised she is keeping it down because she is usually very sensitive to that sort of thing. The main problem she is having with it is she said she gets a metallic taste in her mouth.

Liz, I just saw your update. Oh my goodness, a heart transplant! Your family has been through so much already. Don't listen to those awful labor stories. Just keep focused on your dear daughter and her doctor's advice. More ((hugs)).

Thank you so much. It'll be 21 years in May since she had her transplant at 6 weeks old. Her birthday is a week from today and she'll be 21. She's our little miracle.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

DH had it a few years ago. He got it after taking an antibiotic for a dental infection.

He took a probiotic and activated charcoal. Thankfully we caught it early because his mom had it a few years before him and DH knew the symptoms.
MIL took the flagyl, and was in the hospital for a few months, it was bad, but eventually recovered fully.

got this from here:
http://www.cdiffsupport.com/aboutcdiff.html

If Flagyl is ineffective then Vancocin (vancomycin) is commonly prescribed. The Vancocin is very expensive (about $4.80 per pill!!).

If you have any questions PM me. He's in the UK this week but I can have him reply at night.

 

[kimmylaj]

my dd 3 just got diagnosed today with c diff, so i am also looking for some positives
op- pm me if you want to talk about it
we start flagyl tomorrow and we have her on flurostor kids
i'll send some prayers your way if you dont mind

 

[DisneyLover83]

My BIL has lupus (autoimmune) and has had C Diff on two different occasions, both requiring hospital stays but ultimately he fully recovered both times! I have learned that even though the internet is a great way to gain knowledge sometimes it's better not to look

 

[Liz]

my dd 3 just got diagnosed today with c diff, so i am also looking for some positives
op- pm me if you want to talk about it
we start flagyl tomorrow and we have her on flurostor kids
i'll send some prayers your way if you dont mind

How is your little daughter? I'm so sorry she got C-diff. How has she done on the Flagyl? I just saw this post tonight. I don't know why I didn't get notification that someone else had posted or I would have responded sooner.

 

[Liz]

Thought I'd come back and provide an update on my daughter! She finished the Flagyl April 2nd and so far doesn't have any of the C-diff symptoms. She's also taking Probiotics now. I'm not sure if we should keep her on that always or just for a little while to make sure it doesn't come back. She's taking antibiotics for a dental visit tomorrow so we'll definitely keep her on the Probiotics for awhile.

Thank you for all the positive stories that helped me calm down and have hope!

 

[krcit]

So glad to hear!!! Thanks for the update!

 

[laurie31]

Great update - glad she's better.

(and...I don't get thread updates AT ALL now, despite going in and making sure my user settings are set to receive them )